Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Kegan on July 22, 2009, 11:46:09 am

Title: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on July 22, 2009, 11:46:09 am
Just finished this one out. Its been in the works for a while. Orignially I intended to make it longer, being only 1 3/4" wide, but piked it for weight. This is the first bow I finished out for my new 29" draw.

It's tempered white oak, with a nice sinew back (thanks Phillip ;D ;D ;D). 65" overall, 1 3/4" wide (bit too narrow all things taken in consideration). About 85# at 29", it has under 2" of string follow after a hard shooting session, but returns to straight after a little while. It started with 1" pulled in reflex, and pulled in 1" more. I wrapped the limbs with serving material for camo, as the finely shredded sinew Phillip sent me was simply too nice to cover with cloth or skins :). The handle has an overlay of ash because the stave had been rather thin. Dished grip. I've been putting small leather shelves on my bows as of late. This bow shoots veyr hard and very straight. There is an absencse of handshock and over all, I'm pleased as punch with how this thing turned out :).

I sped the sinew up for this bow, but even though it helps hold it together and really does help hold profile (and seems to really zip an arrow) I don't thin I want to do it again. Some of the sinew dry up off the backing at spots- it just didn't look very nice afterwards. I also took the sinew only up to where the wrappings are, keeping it shorter- I like it. I intend to try this with a longer hickory bow later.

However, this bow had a natural deflexed portion, where the handle pushed the limb forward and the limb itself curved back, that I was unable to take out with heat and steam. After shooting the result is a few small frets on the inside of the limb at that spot. Should I worry about this?

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Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on July 22, 2009, 11:54:29 am
And a couple action pictures :)

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Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: DanaM on July 22, 2009, 11:58:12 am
Looks like ya did a fine job Kegan, Tiller looks great. Only criticism I have is put a shirt on or get a tan ;) :D
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on July 22, 2009, 12:06:13 pm
Thank you! Sorry about the lack of a shirt. Yesterday was wash day and everything is still soaked :-X.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on July 22, 2009, 12:17:15 pm
Forgot this one. I finished this bow off with five coats of spar urethance, and before finishing I coated the sinew with a thin coat of TB III after sanding. Seems to be pretty water resistanct at this point.

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Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Hillbilly on July 22, 2009, 03:16:50 pm
That looks like a good'un, Kegan. Tiller looks good, overall really nice bow. Those chrysals don't look to be too bad, I'd just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't start getting worse. White oak is almost unbreakable, but you wouldn't want to be anywhere around that sucker if it let go at that draw weight.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: OldBow on July 22, 2009, 06:02:25 pm
Of all the bows you have posted, I like this one the most. Nice job! Bookmarked for Self BOM fun, too ;D
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: John K on July 22, 2009, 06:08:59 pm
Cool bow Kegan. 85#  :o I have a hard time with 50  :D
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 22, 2009, 08:01:45 pm
Very nice, Keegan. Too nice for chrysals. Did you make the belly of that bow round? Jawge
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: adb on July 22, 2009, 08:16:55 pm
Nice job Kegan. Your bows are getting much better. This one is certainly well done. Your tiller looks very good, and I'm surprised it chrysalled. I always worry about chrysalls. It's a sign that the wood is overstressed, and starting to fail. I think frets are kinda like an iceberg... most of the problem is unseen, and below the surface. I don't think it would help to reduce weight. Shoot it, have fun... if it fails, it fails. I'm thinking maybe the sinew was too much for the oak? I have zero experience with this combo, so it's just a thought.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: JustAim on July 22, 2009, 10:13:24 pm
Nice bow! Looks real good.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: radius on July 22, 2009, 10:47:06 pm
I like it too, man, this one is great.  You must be a LOT stronger than you look!   >:D >:D >:D
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: AKAPK on July 23, 2009, 04:50:05 am
looks great, darn chrysals , I think thats why I like short bows with sinew, never had a  fret yet. :)
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Pappy on July 23, 2009, 05:24:53 am
Very nice bow,great tiller and finish work. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: smokeu on July 23, 2009, 10:31:24 am
Cool bow Kegan... Looks like a heavy hitter!

Mike
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on July 23, 2009, 04:58:21 pm
Thanks everyone ;D! It's thanks to all the wodnerful people and influence here that my bows are getting to where they are :).

Jawge- The belly of this one is actually pretty flat. Only thing rounded is the very edges (I roughed this one out months before I started radiusing bellies). The frets are from a section of the stave that was deflexed more than the rest of the bow (you can see it slightly in the full draw picture).

If it gets worse I'll path it up, but right now I'm having a blast shooting this thing- it shoots where you point it and knocks over whatever it hits >:D.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: FVR on July 23, 2009, 06:36:42 pm
I like that bow.

Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on July 23, 2009, 06:43:08 pm
Real good looking bow !  tiller is allmost perfect Hill shape.


....don't worry about those frets, can't change things now ;D,....I wager they'll be O.K.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: hammertime on July 23, 2009, 07:33:47 pm
Nice lookin bow I've heat treated oak already and it seems to really help the profile,well done Hammertime
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on July 24, 2009, 11:16:25 am
Thanks everyone :)!

I've been shooting this bow alot lately, and I have to say I'm a big fan of this style and of sniew. Despite the weight, draw length, narrow width, and short bow length it still stands striaght and shoots very hard, and the TB III and spar urethane seem to be keeping all this rain we're having lately from giving the sinew/Knox any troubles. Come processing season I'll be trying a little harder to get in contact with the local deer processor for legs/sinew- I think I've found my new favorite style ;D
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: 1/2primitive on July 24, 2009, 08:00:03 pm
Hehe, I like it. :)
You've improved greatly, Kegan. It's neat to see. Good job!
     Sean
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Chadwick on July 25, 2009, 03:18:24 am
Hey, it's obvious that your bowmaking ability and your bow drawing ability have greatly increased since you were first posting!
Progress can be lovely.
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: koan on August 02, 2009, 12:30:19 pm
Kegan, you have made some dandy's, but I like this one the best! If'n I could draw it, I would try to talk you out of it...lol
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: Kegan on August 02, 2009, 01:39:30 pm
Thanks ;D. I've become a huge fan of this design, as I don't think my heat gun is strong enough to give my bows as full a temper as I could, so I intend to post many more of this design in the future :)
Title: Re: Sinew backed white oak
Post by: kayakfisher on August 02, 2009, 09:02:02 pm
Nice lookin bow, great job,{it would be nice if us red heads tanned hm}
                                                              Fellow red head
                                                                   Dennis